QUARTER CRAIC

A light-hearted look at some tenuous links between NFL counterparts

- BY PADDY TIERNEY

WITH NFL fever set to grip in the coming days ahead of the eagerly anticipated showdown between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park, some GAA fans might be wondering which American Football team they should shout for this season.

The historic clash in Dublin on Sunday, September 28 will be the first time a regular-season NFL game has taken place in Ireland.

Croker hosted a preseason game between the Steelers back in 1997 while the Aviva Stadium has regularly hosted College Football games.

Indeed, the Steelers are owned by the Rooney family, whose origins can be traced back to Newry, Co Down.

That might lead the Mournemen lending their support to the Black and Gold, but what about the other 31 counties?

Here’ a lighthearted look at some tenuous links between Gaelic football teams and their NFL counterparts.

ANTRIM ~ WASHINGTON COMMANDERS

Plans for a new stadium have been dogged by controversy. Although Casement won't be quite as expensive as the new £3bn, 65,0000-capacity stadium planned for the Commanders.

ARMAGH~ LA RAMS

Fine stadium. Former champions fell short in the playoffs last season and it remains to be seen if they can challenge again this term, but impossible to rule out.

CARLOW ~ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Just like when ‘Carlow rising’ was all the rage in the south west, the Jags enjoyed a run to the AFL championship game in 2017. Nothing to purr about since.

CAVAN ~ GREEN BAY PACKERS